Croak turned over,mumbling in his sleep. His head was blessedly quiet, and he’d been able to fall asleep as soon as his head hit his folded up coat. Now, as he flung his arm wide, it smacked something that cursed. A second later, a hand clamped hard on his mouth, hot breath on his forehead.
“Fuck, Croak!”
His eyes bulged wide as he tried to see his assailant. He bucked at the weight atop him, which made the figure curse and press down harder.
“Croak, stop! It’s me!” Terena hissed.
Croak stopped and shook his head. Terena lifted her hand away and moved back enough he could see her face.
“What the fuck?” he wheezed.
She got off him and shoved at his chest before looking around the camp. Ormano, Sonah and Croak had stayed close to the fire, bedding down on rolled up coats, one of them having draped a cloak atop Sonah, while Rydon and Gabriol had gone further out, taking turns on watch. Croak glanced across the fire to where Orry and Sonah lay asleep.
“What are you doing?” he hissed at Terena as he sat up.
“What do you know of the mercs?”
Croak made a face. “Honestly? This couldn’t wait until morning?”
“No, it cannot,” she hissed back. “Tell me everything from the moment you met them.”
Croak huffed and leaned up to see over her shoulder. There was no movement beyond the flames. Both were still asleep.
“I went looking for them like you asked,” he whispered. “Found them at Nathaniel’s and tried to get them to let us join them or what not and they kicked me out the table. Hadn’t spied them again until a few dayslater when Benson brought me news of your arrest.” He gestured with his hand and sighed. “I needed their help with your escape. They agreed, for a price of course. Had to give them half my orichalcum.”
“They wouldn’t have anything to do with you until you offered them money for help with my escape? Someone charged with being a god and the murderer of the Crown Prince? And nothing about that struck you funny.”
“Honestly sis, only you would think any of that crossed my mind in that moment when all I couldthinkabout was getting you out of there!” This last he all but yelled at her.
She reached out and grabbed his flailing arms, shushing him. When she was sure Croak had calmed, she let go of his arms and sat back.
“Gods, Croak,” she mumbled. “I get it. Sorry.” They were quiet for a time.
“The shorter one told me he was sent to find me. Not a tracker.Me.” Terena said.
Croak lifted his head and looked back at her. “Aye, Benson said that back in Laurica. What of it?”
“That doesn’t seem strange to.you?”
Croak looked at her, incredulous. “Are you joking?”
Terena ignored him and instead asked, “Did he tell you he’s a god?”
“Who? Rydon?”
Terena smirked. “The northern king. And calls himself the King of Olympus.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” Croak said, then narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t think… it’s not Zeus, is it?”
“I don’t see how it can be. Whoever it is also told the shorter one he doesn’t want me to know his name. Not until he tells me himself.”
“Ominous.”
“Indeed. And is specific about those he seeks.”
“Oh, he has a list, does he?”
“According to the shorter man?—”
